Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-19
GAS.lyGsIT STUDENTS.
a Talk with superintendent Powell
About the Work OF the Night schools.

"The night Schools observed Superintendent
Powell, IA the course OF conversation with STAR
reporter, "are fully coming up to expectations as
far az least the numbers In attendance are con-
cerned As 70 the BENEFITS derived from the In
structlon given and the practical advantages to
the scholars. that Is something which we cannot
estimate 20 readily. But believe that II is con-
coded TO be great advantage TO get pupils within
the school-house andao provide sufficient facili-
ties for education, and then the benefits Will rol-
low. There IA no doubt about our having the num-
DerS Tie attendance Is double that OF last year.
i DID not know but that the opening of
schools in various portions OF the city would
,ssen the ,. number Of pupils attending the
been the case. The attendance at the school in
the Franklin building Is larger now than when
10 was the only night school open In the District
Tor white pupils As perhaps you know there are
nov IN the six districts comprising the white
schools four schools iocatei IN the Franklin,
II JEeSe schools the attendance reaches 100 and
In others the number OF scholars Il about ~. The
average ATTENDANCE At each OF the four schools Is
about L.. Then there is colOresi night school in
the NudG building, and another In Hills1ale, and
the attendance at both OF these schools Is over
100 30 you see the total attendance at the night
schools Is now about sGO. This does Eot Include
the attendance at the eoiored schools In the Other
two cistrtcts.-
what proportion OF this number are womenY-
There are not many women who 90 to the
night scnoo.s. was the reply; perhaps no; more
than 100 There ought 10 be more. and there is nc
reason why the girls who nave 10 work curing the
day should rot attend these schools at night. We
have superior class OF scholars and the order Is
witLout iault- rs perhaps yOu know. the schools
have sessions for TWO hours In three nights In each
week. The scholars are divided into three grades
according 70 their atfannents. and there are three
teachers. beside principal The course IS arith-
Inetic. reading- geography. history and penmau-
ship IN addltlon, the principal gives brief talks
on Gives, hygiene and physics lie makes these
talks a. practical as 'SSiDle, and endeavOrs
10 get the pupils 70 think OF the Kind o. govern
inent uncer which they live. how 10 Is constituted
how the members OF Congress are chosen. and
how the states are governed. Then nc talks " the
laws OF health OF ventilation, proper clothing, sc
he sp~tss OF heat ana cold, and how to read d
therm0neteE, and gives some suggestions "a Il
how the signal Service predicts the weather. All
desire Is not only 10 teach the pups pu 10 2e;
them 70 think for themselves. Under the subject
Of ~ giene the Principals in accordance with The
ACT on congress. tells the pupils about the effect OF
narcotics and the use OF alcoholic stiInulants OF
the human rody.
the advanced grade in the schools continued
the superintendent, Is composed, as a rule. Of
men and young boys who are well informed anl
Intelligent, generally speaking. but there are Ger
tain defects In their education which they wish Il
remedy. The schools are not ragged Schools by
any means There are great many boys who arr
earning good wages, and they attend these school.
because they have been deprived OF school aG
Iantages. The course Of study IL calculated q
aid The pupils In acquiring Information. In tbs
INST grade In arithmetic they begin with siInpi,
sums In addition subtraction, &C. Then they
take up fractions, decimals, ana finally, in tht
tniro grace. they learn 10 Calculate percentage
Gsounts. profit and loss, and commissions
Insy are taught about partnerships, stocks
lnIerest, &C. Then they read extracts frUm Amen
an history and IN the questions on the passag,
Ieau. the pupils are taught something about
Sography, their read ne T. corrected and they or,
NenpEattlee IN writing English sentences. TIT
LATER - Important. because, while mani
people speaA English correctly they are bot heree
when they come 70 write 10 know where 10 pu
the capita ans and how 10 introduce the punctuatiO,
markA As you may judge, a course in the nigh
IL al iharaf exfu
cation, especially as compared with what the,
had when they entered the school, The teacher
commend the diligence and attention of the uu
pills, and altogether the night schools are IN yer,
satisfactory condition"
For the Eye OF the school Authorizes
To the Editor OF The EVENING STAR:
The contractors turned the Phelps school owe
70 the Commissioners In q very bad state First IN